Why did the Americans forces lose the Battle of Brandywine?

Answer 1

Washington tried to force the British into fighting at a position advantageous to the Colonists, but the British learned this and sent a small group of soldiers to attack at this position (to make Washington think his plan had worked), while the majority came at him from an unexpected flank position.

Washington was caught off-guard and the Colonists eventually lost Philadelphia.

The element of surprise is always a good thing to have. Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Two reasons, 1 the British out numbered George Washington 17000 to 10600. 2 George Washington had conflicting intelligence reports on the British troop movements.

However, in most Revolutionary War battles the British lost far more troops to Colonial sharp shooters an the road leading to the battles and leaving the battles, than they did to colonial militiamen. The Colonials were mostly hunters using German made riffles that were actually rifled for accuracy (the Germans had invented rifling or twisted groves inside the barrel of the rifle to improve accuracy by spinning the bullet like a top). And they fought as hunters by picking them off a few at a time from distances well out of British range. The British rifles shot a huge bullet at short ranges (only about 200 yards) and they didn't have sites, they were designed simply to fill the air with lead, but that was how wars were fought then, you stand in two lines and trade shots till your too close and engage hand to hand, or until someone runs.

Hope this help and sorry I got on a tangent

A more comprehensive view would be the guy 2 above me, he cut and pasted that from wikipedia, which I have no problem with but you could have done that on your own.

Answer 3

Washington did not have as good a knowledge as the British had, the British commander sent a smaller number of troops to meet Washington (who was waiting for them). But the larger number of British troops went north and crossed the river at a unknown spot then surprised the American Army with the Superior force.

the British had better knowledge of the Battlefield terrain, as well as surprise with this pincer movement.

Answer 4

Poor planning by Washington. He over looked a ford which allowed the British to flank his position. Antoher major factor was that Howe did not take the time to set his forces during landing which kept Washington from being able to properly gauge the true strength of the British force.

Answer 5

Washington was out Generaled by Cornwallis who using the cover of fog outflanked washingtons line and forced him to retreat leaving behind his Cannons as the horse were all dead. The Brits also had more troops that were far better trained and disciplined.

Answer 6

September 11 began with a heavy fog, which provided cover for the British troops. Washington received contradictory reports about the British troop movements and continued to believe that the main force was moving to attack at Chris Ford. The British appeared on the Americans' right flank at around 2 p.m. With Hazen's brigades outflanked, Sullivan, Stephen, and Stirling tried to reposition their troops to meet the unexpected British threat to their right flank. But Howe was slow to attack the American troops, which bought time for the Americans to position some of their men on high ground at Birmingham Meeting House, about a mile (2 km) north of Chadds Ford. By 4 p.m., the British attacked with Stephen's and Stirling's divisions bearing the brunt of the attack, and both lost ground fast. Sullivan attacked a group of Hessian troops trying to outflank Stirling's men near Meeting House Hill and bought some time for most of Stirling's men to withdraw. But Sullivan's men were cut down by return British fire, forcing them to retreat.

At this point, Washington and Greene arrived with reinforcements to try to hold off the British, who now occupied Meeting House Hill. The remains of Sullivan's, Stephen's, and Stirling's divisions held off the pursuing British for nearly an hour but were eventually forced to retreat. The Americans were also forced to leave behind most of their cannon on Meeting House Hill because most of the artillery horses were killed.

Knyphausen, on the east bank of the Brandywine, launched an attack against the weakened American center across Chadds Ford, breaking through Maxwell's and Wayne's divisions and forcing them to retreat and leave behind most of their cannons. Armstrong's militia, never engaged in the combat, also decided to retreat from their positions. Further north, Greene sent Colonel Weedon's troops to cover the road just outside the town of Dilworth to hold off the British long enough for the rest of the Continental Army to retreat. Darkness brought the British pursuit to a standstill, which then left Weedon's force to retreat. The defeated Americans were forced to retreat to Chester where most of them arrived at midnight, with some stragglers arriving until morning.
The battle cost the British about 89 killed and 487 wounded, while they claimed to have killed 200 Colonials, wounded 750 more, and captured over 400 as well as destroying or capturing 11 of the American artillery guns.

Although Howe had defeated the American army, the unexpected resistance he had met prevented him from destroying it completely. The American morale had not been destroyed; despite losing the battle, the Americans had good spirits hoping to fight the British again another day. But neither commander in the battle had proven themselves. Washington had committed a serious error in leaving his right flank wide open and nearly brought on destruction if it had not been for Sullivan, Sterling, and Stephen's divisions that fought for time. Howe had waited too long to attack the American right flank, showing again his lack of killer instincts because he was still afraid of sustaining heavy casualties since the costly victory at the Battle of Bunker Hill two years earlier, and thus allowed most of the American army to escape.

British and American forces manoeuvred around each other for the next several days with only minor encounters such as the Paoli Massacre on the night of September 20-21.

The Continental Congress abandoned Philadelphia, first to Lancaster, Pennsylvania for one day and then to York, Pennsylvania. Military supplies were moved out of the city to Reading, Pennsylvania. On September 26, 1777, British forces marched into Philadelphia unopposed.